readin & fightin

These are 3 posters from our almost-off-the-ground Copwatch group. For the past year though we’ve been wheatpasting these around, especially in areas where cops hassle people a lot. It’s nice to have a reminder posted up on the wall of what your rights are with cops. Obviously this is all easier said than done, and there are plenty of reasons cops will use to trample all over you. Still, it can be helpful as a buffer to know what your rights are in dealing with them, especially when it can show that you’re not just going to be intimidated by them.

Much of this text was adapted from a Crimethinc poster about dealing with cops. I hated the layout of that one & how much text was packed into a single poster.

ETA: Feel free to use these posters, and take our name off them & replace it with your own. Also if anyone wants decent pdfs of them, hit me up.

The text on them reads:

If you have to deal with cops, do it right!

If the police stop you:
* Ask, “Am I free to go?” If not, you are being detained. If yes, walk away.
* Ask, “Why are you detaining me?” To stop you, the officer must have a “reasonable suspicion” of your involvement in a specific crime (not just a guess or stereotype).
* If a cop tries to search your car, house, or your person, say repeatedly that you DO NOT CONSENT to the search. If in a car, do not open your trunk or door. If at home, step outside & lock your door. Ask to see the warrant & check for proper address, judge’s signature, and what the warrant says the cops are searching for. Everything must be correct in a legal warrant; otherwise send the cops away.
* Cops can do a “pat search” of the exterior of your clothing for weapons during a detention; they cannot go into your pockets or bags without your consent. If you are arrested, they can search you & your possessions in great detail.
* Do not physically resist. Keep your cool.

If the police arrest you:
* You may be handcuffed, searched, photographed, & fingerprinted.
* Say repeatedly, “I don’t want to talk until my lawyer is present.” Refuse to talk until your lawyer arrives.
* Don’t talk to other inmates about your case.
* If you’re on parole/probation, tell your P.O. you’ve been arrested but nothing else about the incident.

Remember: you have legal rights, but don’t expect the police to always respect them. Stay safe, keep your eyes & ears open!

Hey Officer, can I get your digits?

If you are a victim of police brutality, harassment, or other misconduct, or see a cop doing those things to someone else, it’s important you find out the officer’s name, badge number, and car number if possible. They might try to hide this information from you; ask if you need to.

Write this information down so you don’t forget it. In fact, tell your friends & neighbors, so they can also look out for the offending officer.

To file a complaint, you have to have the cop’s exact name & number or your complaint gets thrown out.

When we keep track of this information, we can help out friends who have run-ins with the same cops later.

And when the cops know the whole neighborhood is watching them, they are less likely to beat & hassle us and expect to get away with it.